Pot-smoking officer's behavior reportedly worsens

Friday

Apr 25, 2014 at 12:01 AMApr 25, 2014 at 10:05 AM

A Columbus police officer who admitted regularly smoking marijuana and could be fired is also accused of harassing other officers after being assigned to desk duty. Officer James Hassey is facing a recommendation by the police chief that he be fired.

Allison Manning, The Columbus Dispatch

A Columbus police officer who admitted regularly smoking marijuana and could be fired is also accused of harassing other officers after being assigned to desk duty.

Officer James Hassey is facing a recommendation by the police chief that he be fired. An ex-girlfriend filed a complaint against him in September saying he smoked marijuana and gave her some, among other allegations.

Hassey admitted to his sergeant and the internal-affairs investigator that he had been smoking marijuana three or four times a month for the past three to five years, according to police records. He told the investigator he had most recently smoked the day before being told of the complaint.

Hassey was assigned to desk duty, where he remains.

After a March 20 hearing, Police Chief Kim Jacobs recommended that he be fired and suspended for 240 hours, which would affect any unused vacation payout.

Another investigation was opened on April 5 after two officers told their sergeant that Hassey had made work unbearable, with derogatory comments about their work ethic and about women. He was assigned to a conference room to work alone.

“Officer Hassey has become three times worse in his behavior after having his chief’s hearing,” one officer told an investigator. “He often says, ‘What are they going to do, fire me?’??”

The final decision lies with Public Safety Director Mitchell Brown. A hearing is scheduled for May 6.